Fashion designer, hip hop dancer, music producer or botanist. Students at Azusa High School can do it all, with the help of AzusaTHINKs.

The nonprofit organization THINK Together has established an after-school program on the high school’s campus that offers academic and enrichment classes to promote student success.

The program came to the campus almost two years ago after a five-year grant was awarded to the district.

The program offers a long list of classes that students can pick from to become involved on campus or increase their academic performance. Students can join auto shop classes, help restore an old greenhouse left unworkable on the campus for years, participate in dance and art classes, and gaze at the cosmos at “star parties” for those interested in astronomy.

The classes and programs are available to all students at the high school, according to Tiffany Johnson, the site facilitator with AzusaTHINKs.

“I wouldn’t know where to start or where to look for stuff like this if it wasn’t for the program,” said Tyler Covington, junior at the high school. Covington participates in full working media lab.

The high school junior said she is looking forward to learning about podcasts in the lab, a skill she feels will benefit her in her future aspirations to become a radio host.

The program has received more than 21,000 visits from students this school year, said Johnson. Classes are determined by a student survey administered in the beginning of the year, she said.

The program seeks to create a strong network for students who have difficulty connecting to the high school environment. Incoming freshmen are encouraged to join the program and receive extra help in subjects through a mentoring summer school program.

The programs pair ninth-graders with seniors and juniors who help the new students become acquainted with the campus through activities and service learning field trips while taking summer school classes in subjects where they may need extra help.

Covington participated in the program as a mentor and said she enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Museum of Tolerance and help clean up Venice Beach.

“It really opened my eyes and gave me a new respect for teachers,” Covington said about her leadership position.

Principal John Steven Coke finds the freshman program to be important, saying encouraging students early on helps set the tone for a successful high school career.

Students can also earn credits they need to stay on track for graduation. Through AzusaTHINKs’ Credit Recovery program, students can take online or teacher instruction courses after-school to receive missing credits and graduate with their peers.

Students improve their writing skills through an online database called My Access offered by the after-school program. The website allows students to write on prompts and receive instant feedback for their essays. Students are able to make revisions before turning in essays and practice their writing test-taking skills at the site.

Teachers, Azusa Pacific University student volunteers and employees of the AzusaTHINKs program facilitate the rotating list of classes, sports and clubs on campus.

“I get to meet new friends,” said senior Marlene Gomez about the program.

AzusaTHINKs runs every day at the high school during after-school hours depending on the activity. Other schools throughout the Azusa Unified School District have the nonprofit organization operating on their campuses. For information about a program at a campus, call the district’s office at 626-967-6211.

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